The Shepherd of Hermas: Accomplished

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you” — when you already have it with you. Proverbs 3:27

“There was a person who owned a field and many slaves, and he planted a vineyard in part of the field. And he chose a certain slave who was most trustworthy and pleasing to him; and when he was about to go on a journey, he called him in and said to him, ‘Take this vineyard that I have planted and build a fence around it before I return, and do nothing else to the vineyard. Do what I have commanded and I will set you free.’ And the master of the slave went away on his journey.

When he had gone, his slave took the vineyard and built a fence around it. And when he finished the fence he saw that the vineyard was full of weeds. And so he reasoned to himself, ‘I have finished what the Lord commanded; so now I will dig in this vineyard. Once it is dug it will be more attractive, and without the weeds it will give more fruit, since it will not be choked by the weeds.’ So he dug the vineyard and removed all the weeds that were in it. And that vine­ yard became more attractive and flourish­ing, since there were no weeds that could choke it.

After some time the master of both field and slave returned and came into the vineyard. When he saw that the vine­ yard was attractively fenced and even more that it was dug, with all the weeds removed, and that the vines were flourishing, he was extremely pleased with what the slave had done. So he called his beloved son, who was to be his heir, and his friends, who served as his advisors, and he told them everything he had commanded his slave and everything he found accomplished. And they congratulated the slave for the good testimony that the master had given him.

He said to them, ‘I promised to free this slave if he did what I commanded him. And he did what I commanded and an additional good work in my vineyard besides. He has pleased me greatly. In exchange for the work he has done I want to make him a fellow heir with my son; for when he thought of the good deed, he did not leave it alone, but he accomplished it.’ The master’s son approved of the idea that the slave should become his fellow heir. After some days the master of the house gave a dinner and sent a number of foods to the slave from his table.

When the slave received the food his master sent, he took what he needed and distributed the rest to his fellow slaves. His fellow slaves took the food gladly, and began also to pray for him, that he might find even greater favor with the master, since he had treated them so well. The master heard everything that happened and was again extremely pleased at what the slave had done. And so he once more assembled his friends and his son, and he reported to them what the slave had done with the foods he had received. And they approved even more heartily his plan to make the slave his son’s fellow heir.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 55. 2-11, Parable V.2 (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 273.

I am enjoying these second century parables from Hermas.

We could explore many aspects of this parable, but I think the thread that struck me relates to that moment “when he thought of the good deed, he did not leave it alone, but he accomplished it.”

Sometimes we think of something and then we don’t follow through.

This reveals that God sees when we do that and celebrates what it says about our hearts. Children of God follow through: when they think of a good deed, they don’t leave it alone.

What will you do the next time you think of a good deed and what will it reveal about your heart?

Flying to Washington D.C. this morning for activating new Chinese and Spanish staff and meetings at ECFA this week. Appreciate your prayers for us.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: ‘Here am I.’

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58:6-12

“While I was fasting and sitting on a certain mountain, thanking the Lord for everything he had done for me, I saw the shepherd sitting next to me. And he said to me: “Why have you come here so early?” “Because, Lord,” I said, “I have a duty to perform.”

“What is the duty?” he asked. “I am fasting, Lord,” I replied. “But what is this fast you people are keeping?” he asked. “I am fasting according to my custom, Lord,” I said. “You people do not know how to fast for God,” he said, “and this worthless fast you are keeping for him is not a fast.”

“Why do you say this, Lord,” I asked. “I say this,” he said, “because what you think you are keeping is not a fast. But I will teach you a fast that is acceptable and complete to the Lord.” “Yes, Lord,” I said, “you will make me blessed if you show me the fast acceptable to God.” “

Listen,” he said. “God does not want this kind of vain fast. For when you fast like this to God you do nothing at all righteous. But fast to God as follows: Do no evil in your life, but serve as the Lord’s slave with a pure heart, keep­ing his commandments and proceeding in his injunctions;

And let no evil desire rise up in your heart. Trust in God, be­ cause if you do these things and fear him and are self-restrained from every evil deed, you will live to God. If you do these things, you will accomplish a fast that is great and acceptable to the Lord.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 54. 1-5, Parable V (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 272.

As GTP does the kind of work Isaiah prophesied and Hermas echoed, I have a testimony to share. I cried for help for capital and God showed up. Simple as that.

Two days ago we were looking at a $250,000 need, and today it’s only $50,000. God provided. And it’s not only for one year but five years ($200,000 x 5). God has given us capital to build capacity.

Today’s message in that light aims to call you to radical service and trust. Spend yourself believing that God will hear your prayer when you have a need. He will say, “Here I am!”

I get on a plane for a week in Washington D.C. tomorrow. I will meet up with GTP staff from Canada, Hong Kong, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Dominican Republic. We will visit ECFA’s offices on one one day.

We have three fasting days planned to discern direction. Our aim is to orient three new staff and activate our Chinese and Spanish teams over the course of the week at Black Rock Retreat.

Pray for us. And pray for God to supply the remaining $50,000 we need by 30 June 2024. Give as you are able here. And, as God leads, support others who are spending themselves for God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Galatians 5:22-23

“He showed me again a number of trees, some of them budding, others withered. And he said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see them, Lord,” I replied. “Some of them are budding and others withered.”

“These trees that are budding,” he said, “are the upright who are about to dwell in the age that is coming. For the coming age is a summer for the upright, but a winter for sinners. And so, when the mercy of the Lord shines forth, those who serve as slaves to God will stand out clearly, and everyone will be able to rec­ognize them.

For just as the fruits of each individ­ual tree appear in the summer and their species are recognized, so too the fruits of the upright will appear, and they will all be known in that age because they will be blossoming.

But the outsiders and sinners — who are the withered trees you saw — will be found withered and fruitless in that age, and they will be burned like withered trees and shown for what they are.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 53. 1-4, Parable IV (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 271-272.

This parable reminds me of the coming judgment for all of us.

But it’s a glimpse of the present looking ahead to that time. In the parable, some trees are budding and blossoming. Others are withered. This begs the question for all of us.

Is there budding, blossoming, and fruit on my tree today?

Only you can answer this. And remember the key to producing the fruit of the Spirit: we must stay connected to the vine of Jesus, put the flesh to death daily, and keep in step with the Spirit.

Father bear fruit in our lives, especially generosity, I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

He showed me many trees that did not have leaves but ap­peared to me to be withered. And they were all alike. He said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see them, Lord,” I replied. “They are like one another and withered.” He replied, “These trees you see are the people who dwell in this age.”

“Why, then, Lord,” I asked, “do they seem withered and like one another?” “Because,” he said, “neither the upright nor the sinners stand out clearly in this age, but they are like one another. For this age is a winter for those who are upright: they do not stand out clearly while dwelling with the sinners.

For just as the trees that shed their leaves in the winter all look alike, with the withered indistinguishable from the living, so too in this age it is not clear who the upright are and who the sinners, but they all appear alike.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 52. 1-3, Parable III (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 271.

In today’s Scripture we see Jesus liken our generous deeds to shining as lights. We are illuminated. We stand out. We bring glory to God through our living, giving, serving, and loving.

Then in the Shepherd of Hermas, this parable describes trees in the opposite way.

No wonder Jesus gave instructions to let our light shine. When we conform to the world, we are indistinguishable from those who do not follow Jesus.

“How’s your light?” Or maybe a better question is to say, “What does your tree look like compared to other trees in this day and age?”

God has me still praying for capital for GTP to scale. If you have resources, put them to work.

Our works send a message about what we believe more than our words. And they bring glory to God when they illuminate the darkness around us.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. Ecclesiastes 4:9

“While I was walking in the field and considering an elm tree and a vine, reflecting on them and their fruits, the shepherd appeared to me and said, “Why are you asking yourself about the elm tree and the vine?” “I am thinking, Lord,” I replied, “that they are extremely well suited for one another.” “These two trees,” he replied, “sym­bolize the slaves of God.” “I would like to know,” I said, “what these two trees you are speaking about symbolize.” “You see,” he said, “the elm and the vine?” “I see them, Lord,” I replied.

“This vine,” he said, “bears fruit; but the elm is a tree that does not. Yet if this vine did not grow up onto the elm, it could not bear much fruit, since it would be lying on the ground, and the fruit it bore would be rotten, since it would not be clinging to the elm. And so, when the vine attaches to the elm, it bears fruit both of itself and because of the elm. And so you see that the elm also gives much fruit — no less than the vine, but rather more.” “How does it bear more, Lord” I asked. “Because,” he said, “it is by clinging to the elm that the vine gives an abundance of good fruit; but when it is lying on the ground it bears just a little rotten fruit. And so this parable applies to the slaves of God, the poor and the rich.”

“How so, Lord?” I asked. “Explain it to me.” “Listen,” he said. “The rich person has money, but is poor towards the Lord, since he is distracted by his wealth. The prayer and confession he makes to the Lord are very small — weak, small, and of no real effect. And so, when the rich person depends upon the one who is poor and supplies him with what he needs, he believes that by helping the one who is poor he will find his recom­pense before God. For the poor person is rich in his petition and confession, and his petition has a great effect before God. And so the rich person supplies every­ thing to the one who is poor, without hesitation.

And then the poor person, having his needs supplied by the one who is rich, prays to God and thanks him for the one who has given him what he needs. And that one becomes even more eager to help out the poor person, so that he may lack nothing in his life. For he knows that the petition of the poor person is acceptable and rich before the Lord. And so both accomplish their work. The poor person works at his prayer in which he is rich and which he received from the Lord; and he gives it back to the Lord who supplied it to him in the first place.

So too the rich person does not hesitate to supply his wealth to the poor person, since he received it from the Lord. And this is a great and acceptable thing to do before God, because the rich person has gained understanding by his wealth and has worked for the poor per­ son out of the gifts provided by the Lord, and he has accomplished his ministry well. And so, people may think that the elm tree bears no fruit; but they neither know nor understand that when a drought comes, the elm nourishes the vine by holding water; and the vine, since it has an undiminished supply of water, pro­duces fruit for two, both for itself and for the elm.

Thus also those who are poor who pray to the Lord on behalf of the rich bring their own wealth to comple­tion; and again those who are rich and supply the poor with what they need bring their souls to completion. Both then share in an upright work. And so the one who does these things will not be abandoned by God, but will be recorded in the books of the living. Happy are those who have posses­sions and understand that their riches have come from the Lord; for the one who understands this will also be able to perform a good ministry.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 51. 1-10, Parable II (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 270-271.

This may be the most famous and powerful parable in The Shepherd of Hermas. I have posted it before but have posted it again because of it’s significance and relevance to my situation at GTP.

People with riches are like the elm tree. They give structure, gather water, and make more fruitful the work of the vine. But alone, they produce not fruit. Notice how the two are better together.

Now notice the parallel to the rich and the poor. The rich are distracted by the responsibilities associated with wealth and the poor have margin to pray. On this note I am thankful for GTP ministry partner, Project 114.

Project 114 understands the role of prayer, so they have helped identify intercessors who pray for GTP. I believe their work has helped contribute to the growth of GTP as the power of prayer has opened so many countries.

And I believe GTP has grown so fruitful because elm trees have given riches to give us structure. Please pray with me for capital to scale. I am praying for $1,000,000 ($200,000 a year over five years) to do that.

And I am praying that elm trees everywhere will collaborate with vines to perform a good ministry and find joy and fruitfulness in doing it together.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16

“Instead of fields, then, purchase souls that have been afflicted, insofar as you can, and take care of widows and orphans and do not neglect them; spend your wealth and all your furnishings for such fields and houses as you have received from God.

For this is why the Master made you rich, that you may carry out these min­istries for Him. It is much better to pur­chase the fields, goods, and houses you will find in your own city when you re­turn to it. This kind of extravagance is good and makes one glad; it has no grief or fear, but joy instead. And so, do not par­ticipate in the extravagance sought by outsiders; for it is of no profit for you who are slaves of God.

But participate in your own extrav­agance in which you can rejoice. And do not counterfeit or touch what belongs to another, or desire it. For it is evil to desire someone else’s goods. But do your own work, and you will be saved.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 50. 8-11, Parable 1 (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 270.

When people ask me about making gifts to GTP, I have referred to this famous passage from The Shepherd of Hermas, which has been a meditation in the past, but this one is worth repeating as I work through this text again for the talk I will deliver at conference in Amsterdam in July.

Don’t relate to riches like the world. Use it to carry out ministry for Him that touches people. Last Friday I spent an hour on the phone with a mentor and friend, Rob Martin, one of the founding board members of GTP. He said the Spirit had been telling him that GTP had reached capacity.

“It’s time to do things differently, Gary.” He said. “Let’s pray for God to supply some capital through His people so GTP can scale to respond the opportunities to strengthen stewards crying for help in many countries.” So that’s what we did. We prayed.

Then when I read this, I though I’d ask every reader to pray this too. We are praying for God to supply $1,000,000. And for the first $200,000 before 30 June 2024. Would you pray with us for this? We need someone to purchase souls by releasing funds that could otherwise buy a field or a building.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:8

“He said to me, “You know that you slaves of God are living in a foreign land. For your own city is a long way from this one. If, then,” he said, “you know your own city, where you are about to live, why are you preparing fields, expensive furnishings, buildings, and pointless rooms for yourselves here? Anyone who prepares these things in this city, therefore, cannot return to his own city.

You foolish, double-minded, and miserable person! Do you not understand that all these things belong to another and are under someone else’s control? For the ruler of this city will say, ‘I do not want you living in my city; leave it, because you are not living by my laws.’

And so, you who have fields and houses and many other possessions — when he casts you out, what will you do with your field and house and whatever else you have prepared for yourself? For the ruler of this country rightly says to you, ‘Either live by my laws or leave my country.’ And so what will you do, you who have a law from your own city?

Will you completely renounce your own law for the sake of your fields and whatever else you own, and follow the law of the city you are in now? Take care, because re­nouncing your law may be contrary to your own interests. For if you want to return to your own city, you will not be welcomed, because you have renounced its law; and you will be shut out of it.

And so take care. Since you are dwelling in a foreign land, fix nothing up for yourself except what is absolutely necessary; and be ready, so that when the master of this city wants to banish you for not adhering to his law, you can leave his city and go to your own, and live according to your own law gladly, suf­fering no mistreatment.

Take care, then, you who are en­slaved to the Lord and have Him in your heart. Do the works of God, remember­ing His commandments and the promises He made; and trust in Him, because He will do these things, if His command­ments are guarded.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 50.1-7, Parable 1 (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 268-269.

We have now moved to the parables section of The Shepherd of Hermas. Remember work included in the Apostolic Fathers started with visions, then commandments, and concludes with parables.

This excerpt helps us understand what a double-minded person is. As the NLT translates today’s Scripture, “Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”

I am researching the Apostolic Fathers, in part linked to a paper I will deliver in Amsterdam in July on the topic of “Advice from the Apostolic Fathers on Christian Social Engagement in a Hostile World.”

Today’s reading provides really good advice for people who live in hostile settings: “fix nothing up for yourself except what is absolutely necessary.” This enables you to function in an agile manner.

For those in the USA, we pause today on Memorial Day to give thanks for those have served to give us the freedoms we enjoy. And yet, we must maintain our posture of simply, missional living as strangers in a foreign land.

If we are slaves of God, we are double-minded if we live as though USA is our home. We must, in the words of Hermas, take care. Or be mindful to live simply, do the works of God, and keep our trust fixed on Him.

This is where I am on this Memorial Day, pausing to remember God’s faithfulness in biblical times, through church history, and today. And choosing to trust Him for everything in my life, with my family, and my work.

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. Proverbs 14:29

“Be patient,” he said, “and un­derstanding, and you will rule over every evil work and do all that is righteous. For if you are patient, the Holy Spirit that dwells in you will be pure and will not be overshadowed by another, evil spirit; but dwelling in a broad place it will rejoice and be glad with the vessel it inhabits, and it will serve God with great cheerfulness, flourishing in itself. But if any irascibility should enter in, immediately the Holy Spirit, which is sen­sitive, feels cramped; and not having a pure place it seeks to leave. For it is suffocated by the evil spirit, not having a place to serve the Lord as it wishes, being polluted by the irascibility. For the Lord dwells in patience, but the devil in irascibility.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 33-1-3, Commandment V (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 268.

I needed this commandment today. It’s a great reminder of the spiritual and significant impact of patience. The opposite is irascibility. If that word sounds difficult, I admit that I had to look it up too.

Irascibility is that ugly trait we exhibit when we lose our patience. We let our frustration get the best of us, and in so doing, we fail to accomplish the good we aim to do. Notice the impact on our generosity.

If we aim to serve generously, it will put us in contact with immature people who may not listen very well. We get to be patient so that we can guide them rightly in the way they should go.

If we want to give generously, we may hope for or even expect a certain response or rate of growth. We must be patient, realizing how patient God has been with us in our slowness.

Holy Spirit, produce the fruit of patience in our lives. Help us not harbor a spirit of irascibility lest it crowd you out and hinder the good we aim to do. Hear our prayer Father and make it so in the name, Jesus. Amen.

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. 1 Timothy 6:20a

“Guard this commandment as I have spoken it to you, that your repen­tance and that of your household may be found to be in simplicity — and pure, in­nocent, and blameless.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 27.7, Commandment II (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 265.

This short post has a lot in it.

Hermas follows Paul’s example using the same Greek imperative (“guard”) after providing explicit instructions about giving. Here’s what Paul says to Timothy.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. 1 Timothy 6:17-20a

Then he echoes this charge with the same Greek imperative twice in his second letter to Timothy using financial language.

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 2 Timothy 1:14

The “deposit” is financial language and “good” deposit implies the good teaching about handling money (because money is depicted in Scripture as “worldly wealth” or literally “wealth of unrighteousness.”

I tell you, use worldly wealth (literally, “wealth of unrighteousness”) to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9

A plain way to explain the Greek here is to use the wealth gained or accumulated by not-right, worldly behavior to gain friends for eternity by sharing it generously. That’s not how the world thinks, for sure.

And notice what Hermas says, basically the same thing about 50 years after Paul.

“Do what is good, and take what you have earned through the toils God has given you and give simply to those in need, not wavering about to whom you should give something and to whom not. Give to everyone. For God wishes every­ one to be given something from his own gifts.

And so, those who receive something will render an account to God, about why they received something and to what end. For those who received because of hard­ship will not face condemnation; but those who received out of hypocrisy will pay a penalty.

And so the one who gives is inno­cent. For as he was given a ministry from the Lord to complete, he has completed it in a simple way, having no doubts about to whom he should give or not give something. This ministry that is com­pleted in a simple way becomes glorious before God, so that the one who ministers thus, in a simple way, will live to God.

Guard this commandment as I have spoken it to you, that your repen­tance and that of your household may be found to be in simplicity — and pure, in­nocent, and blameless.”

He wants us to “complete the gift” by living pure, simple, and innocent lives (think “righteous”) as generous sharers.

This is countercultural and crazy in earthly terms but precisely how Jesus wants us to live. And we have to guard this thinking lest we drift and conform to the patterns of this unrighteous world.

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Luke 6:30

“Do what is good, and take what you have earned through the toils God has given you and give simply to those in need, not wavering about to whom you should give something and to whom not. Give to everyone. For God wishes every­ one to be given something from his own gifts.

And so, those who receive something will render an account to God, about why they received something and to what end. For those who received because of hard­ship will not face condemnation; but those who received out of hypocrisy will pay a penalty.

And so the one who gives is inno­cent. For as he was given a ministry from the Lord to complete, he has completed it in a simple way, having no doubts about to whom he should give or not give something. This ministry that is com­pleted in a simple way becomes glorious before God, so that the one who ministers thus, in a simple way, will live to God.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 27.4-6, Commandment II (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 265.

As we shift from the visions section of this ancient document to the commandment section, giving appears as a ministry that is completed. What a beautiful picture.

In this commandment, Hermas writes that God blesses us, instructs us to give, reminds us we will have to give an account to God, and describes the ministry only after we have given.

Has God blessed you with resources that you need to dispense? Don’t wait a day. Remember you will have to give an account to God for all you have been given. What account do you have to give?